For a friend--and for anyone else that needs it.

God is helping you a thousand times more than you are humanly capable of realizing.  There is nothing wrong with you feeling far from God or feeling like God doesn't care about you.  We all feel like that sometimes.  But let me encourage you to speak truth as much as you can.

In other words, you feel like God's not helping you, but you KNOW the truth of the Bible that God has promised to be a friend to the broken hearted.  Since you KNOW that truth (even though at times we don't feel that truth, then speak that TRUTH instead of repeating the lies that Satan is telling you.

Satan says you are alone and that God has given up on you.  But God says you are highly treasured and that He would do anything, to include giving up His own life to have a closer relationship with you.

So speak truth!  Say both in your heart and aloud, "God cares deeply for me."  It won't change your situation, but if you keep at it, it will change you.

It's just like Paul said:

"The one who sows to please their sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction (more discouragement and broken heartedness).  But the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life!  THEREFOR, do NOT become weary in doing good... for at the proper time, we WILL receive a harvest if we do not give up!"

YES!!!!! YES! and AMEN! :)

CAMP! (and a little soapboxing)

What's big, bright and yellow and comes each morning to brighten a mother's day???

The school bus.

Sadly, mothers the country over will have to find something else to make them happy for the next few months.  Schools out, or at least it will be a week from this Friday.  What are our little Methodist youth* going to be doing this summer?  We're going to CAMP!!!!  Woot-woot!

This summer there are at least three camps that FUMC students will be involved in.  Coming the first week in June is our District Youth Camp at Egen, for me and any high schooler (including incoming freshmen).  Immediately following that--the second week of June--I leave to go to TWEENS Camp for pre-teens.  Fun,  fun. :)  Finally, the last week of June, we have a couple students who will be signing up for CYME Leadership Camp for high schoolers who desire to be student leaders.  FUMC does a great job of financially encouraging their youth to sign up for camp; the church pays the first $100 for any children's or youth camp, and no kid is turned away because they can't pay.  I'm REALLY proud** of this church for their strong stance on youth camp.  I've already had a couple, ehhmm older folks make sure I knew they were ready to help student's who couldn't pay.  They obviously know how life-changing it can be!

~~

On the choral side of things, I was also very proud*** of the choir last night!  We went rehearsed a song with an African ostinato feel as well as some very modern songs like Oceans by Hillsong UNITED.  Furthermore, they did a little bit of improv and I was surprised at how well they took to it.

And here comes the soapbox... :)

As a side note, can I just say that worship is something that is important to practice!  I'm not talking about the music part, which is also important to practice.  I'm talking about worship itself.  I believe too often we get in the habit of thinking that in order for a choir or praise band to be effective worship leaders all they need to do is practice the songs to be used.  And whether or not that's our thinking, our doing definitely backs it up.  But we as worship leaders**** should be in the habit of practicing worship.  Part of each rehearsal should be spent worshiping our Lord and Savior. Pure and simple.  Not practicing music.  Not getting notes right or fixing rhythms.  Just worship.  And if in order to be ready to perform we need to practice our instrument at home by ourselves... then how much more should we also be practicing worship on our own?

God, help me to be a more effective worship leader.  Help me to lead my leaders in being true worshipers.  Teach me.  How else will I be able to teach them?  I need You.

* I'd rather say "our little Methies" but something about that just doesn't seem right.

** As if I had anything to do with it.

*** This time I did actually have something to do with it.

**** EVERYONE ON STAGE SUNDAY MORNING IS A WORSHIP LEADER!!!!  And I'm sorry, I know 4 asterisks are a little much.  They're just so fun!*******************************************

Change: it's such a loaded word

Change is change.

It's neither good nor bad.  One can change for the better just as much as they can change for the worse.

Change usually comes with a price.  Sometimes it's very difficult and sometimes its difficulties are small and insignificant; but it always costs something.  Even when the cost is well worth the reward.

Recently, I've experienced a good deal of change.  I've moved from Tennessee to Oklahoma; from hills to flat; and, from a large house to a trailer. By the way, I love my Airstream!

I've also changed from being a grad-student and high school teacher to full time ministry in Music and Youth.  I've changed from working at a Baptist church (a quick shout out to all my Dwight friends I miss so dearly!) to a return to my first denomination of employment: the United Methodist Church.

Thankfully, I have been welcomed with arms wide open here in Miami.  The people of First UMC have bent over backwards to pave my path here.  I've had meals bought for me and helping hands right when I've needed them.  The staff here has also warmly welcomed me by helping get me settled and accustomed to my new work.  They've also gladly picked up my slack as I learn the new ropes!  I couldn't have asked for a kinder set of people.

~

Another thing about change: living things have to change.  Something simply cannot stay the same and stay alive.  So... in that since: it's good to change.  We just have to make sure we're changing for the better.

I pray that in my walk with God and in my leadership of those who I have the responsibility to shepherd I will continue to change and to engender change.  And I pray that the measure of that change will keep step with the Holy Spirit and His work in my life and not with my own ability to "seek and destroy" those things which I think need to be changed.  God guide me!  I need You as I make these changes and as I grow and stretch according to the ways You show me.